The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure - By Storm Constantine Page 0,83

who said, ‘We don’t want power, Stringer and I, but after what I’ve seen, I think maybe Immanion is the place for you, and we’d gladly care for Saltrock while you’re away.’

It seemed so neat and easy, perhaps too much so, and for this reason Seel put off making a decision. Thiede didn’t hassle him about it, which in itself was suspicious.

Some six months after his return to Saltrock, Seel received a visitor. Early one morning, there was a knock at the front door while he was eating breakfast, and when he went to answer it, he found Ashmael Aldebaran on the porch. Seel stared at him in stunned silence for some moments and Ashmael said, ‘No, Thiede hasn’t sent me, in case you were wondering.’

‘Come in,’ said Seel, aware at once that Fate was handing him an information update on a plate. He was also aware that his initial reaction on seeing Ashmael had been pleasure.

‘It must be difficult to construct an idyll in a place like this,’ Ashmael said as Seel led him to the kitchen, which was where he spent most of his time nowadays. ‘You have to admit Thiede chose a better spot.’

Seel did not deign to comment on this, but made Ashmael some coffee and sat him at the table. Like Thiede, he seemed too big for Saltrock, an anachronism. His thick fair hair was cut fairly short by Wraeththu standards, but fell across his face seductively. He brushed it out of his eyes continuously, a boyish gesture that seemed at odds with his appearance and position. Perhaps he knew that and it was a conscious conceit.

‘Your hara are intrigued by Gelaming,’ Ashmael said, sipping the coffee. ‘I attracted quite a crowd before I found your house. Luckily, everyhar wanted to show me the way. They are keen for you to take up Thiede’s offer, aren’t they?’

Seel realised he hadn’t considered that. Nohar had said so, but perhaps it was the case. A close alliance with Immanion could only benefit the town and most hara there probably did harbour secret desires to be Gelaming. ‘I haven’t made up my mind,’ he said. ‘You know why. What is more pressing in my mind is the reason for your visit.’

‘First, I’d like to say I think it would be a good idea for you to come to Immanion, but I’m not here to persuade you about that. It is the other matter.’

‘Pellaz,’ said Seel.

Ashmael nodded abruptly. ‘Have you thought about what I said?’

Seel folded his arms on the table. ‘Yes. I’m still not convinced it’s possible for Thiede to bring somehar back from the dead.’

‘I’m aware of that. However, the Hegemony has a proposal for you.’

‘Which is?’

‘How would you feel about asking Thiede to show Pellaz to you? We understand he is incarnate, at least in some form.’

‘I would like evidence,’ Seel said carefully. ‘So your request is not unfeasible. I presume you want me to report on what I find. Why can’t one of your hara do it?’

‘Thiede won’t let anyhar near Pellaz, but we are sure you would be an exception. He wants you in Immanion, Seel. You don’t know how desperately. You gave him a condition once – do it again.’

‘He hasn’t captured Cal though, has he?’

‘Not that we know of, but this request would be easier to fulfil.’

Seel frowned. ‘You clearly believe Thiede is capable of reincarnating a dead har, so I can’t understand why you want my evidence. I didn’t know Pell that well and I imagine that if what you say is true the har who lives now must be very different to the young boy who was incepted here. What’s the point of this?’

‘It’s not just your evidence we want,’ Ashmael said.

‘What else?’

‘We want you to kill him.’

Seel laughed at the absurdity of these words. ‘Really! You think I’d do that?’

‘Why not? In one sense, he is already dead and I know you are disgusted by the idea of what’s been done to him as I am. The Hegemony does not want Pellaz brought to Immanion, Seel, but our hands are tied. Thiede has great power, not only in a personal sense, but also throughout Wraeththukind. We are aware our own limited powers could be taken from us very easily. We do not want some zombie puppet of Thiede’s ruling in Immanion. The idea is unthinkable. Don’t get me wrong. I admire Thiede and know that we need him in order to construct our society, but in this he is